DETROIT — As the faithful peered around gravestones and memorials, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron reminded them of Christ’s, and by extension Mary’s, victory over the grave.

“Not only Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, but as St. Paul said, ‘All things happen in due course. Mary, too, is risen from the dead. All of us will be raised from the graves. So appropriately, we celebrate here in a cemetery, where our beloved rest until they are called body and soul to heaven,” the archbishop said.

Freedom from the constraints of sin and death was the theme of the night as Archbishop Vigneron celebrated Mass in the grotto of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish in Detroit for the Feast of the Assumption on Aug. 15.



The evening Mass -- which was also the site for a Mass Mob -- featured a procession beforehand with banners proclaiming Mary’s various titles, such as “Queen of Heaven,” “Our Lady, Star of the Sea,” and “Mary, Mother of God.”

Archbishop Vigneron said it was right to honor Mary during the vigil for her participation in the salvation of man from sin.

“In the Gospel, Mary participates fully in the Resurrection, joining Jesus in praising the Father,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “Mary shares in the gift of salvation because of her intimate role in the salvation of men, already shared in the new Resurrection.”

Since God will raise the faithful from the dead, body and soul, Archbishop Vigneron said it is the duty of the faithful to serve and glorify God — even with tasks that might seem mundane.

“We’re not angels; we’re meant to serve God in the flesh,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “We have a great mission, you and I, all destined to rise from the dead. Our Lady’s Assumption is good news, the news the world has been waiting for — even if they don’t know it yet.”

Assumption Grotto parishioner Rodney Pelletier said the call to praise God for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was on his mind during the candlelight procession around the parish grounds after Mass.

“During the procession, I was thinking, what an honor it is to take part in what the angels in heaven are doing, singing praises to Our Lady,” Pelletier said. “We’re able to do this, process in our bodies, kind of like what the archbishop talked about in the homily. That’s why we’re here: to give thanks to God for all He’s done.”

Celebration of the Feast of the Assumption began in the morning, with a Tridentine Mass in the grotto and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the morning and early afternoon. All throughout the day, the parish gift shop and former school building were open for parishioners and visitors alike to stop by and learn more about the history of the parish “in the woods.”

The parish served an Italian dinner in the school gym while people could take part in Stations of the Cross in the grotto’s pathway or confessions in the church before Mass.

Archbishop Vigneron said the day serves a reminder that, because of Jesus’ resurrection, death no longer has power over man.



“It’s God conquering death, proof that God is still in a covenant with His creation,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “This Assumption of Our Lady is evidence to us that we can live, that God has not abandoned us to the power of death. That God has more confidence in us than we have confidence in ourselves. So we, too, are renewed in our hope in this day, with Jesus as the new Adam, and Mary as his partner in salvation, that Jesus is victorious over the whole world.”

That hopeful message resonated with Eveline Musier, a parishioner of St. Andrew Parish in Rochester, whose own son recently entered eternal life.

“My son just passed away a few days ago, and I thought coming here tonight would be a healing event,” Musier said. “Now I know my son is in paradise. I think the overall demeanor and calmness of the archbishop and the Mass brought the meaning of the night together.”

Musier, a native of Austria, said the procession after Mass reminded her of processions back home.

“It’s a festivity in Europe,” Musier said. “Always bands are marching; tapestries are displayed during the processions. It took me back to Austria, where they always do this during the Feast of the Assumption.”